عذيرَك من حلمِك المهتضَمْ

عذيرَك من حلمِك المهتضَمْ

وقد رَفعَ الحيُّ من ذي جُشَمْ

وقد رَفعَ الحيُّ من ذي جُشَمْ

Who will excuse you for your forbearance, so abused,

Your excuse from your forbearance that is digested

now that the clan has departed from Dhu Jusham?

And the living raised from the one with frowning face

أناخوا المطيَّ وماءُ العيو

أناخوا المطيَّ وماءُ العيو

ن دمعٌ وصاحوا بها وهو دمْ

ن دمعٌ وصاحوا بها وهو دمْ

They made the riding camels kneel, while the eyes' water

They anchored the riding-beasts and the spring's water

was tears; they shouted at them, and it was blood.

Is tears, and they cried for it while it is blood

نصلن مروقاً مروقَ السها

نصلن مروقاً مروقَ السها

م أغراضهن النوى والصُّرُمْ

م أغراضهن النوى والصُّرُمْ

They darted away, flying like arrows,

Necks like polished swords, the polished swords of valor

their targets separation and severance.

Their intentions the vows and the necklaces

حواملَ مثلِ كنوز النّعا

حواملَ مثلِ كنوز النّعا

مِ تمشِي بهنّ كنوزُ النَّعمْ

مِ تمشِي بهنّ كنوزُ النَّعمْ

Bearing the like of ostriches' treasures,

Bearing bodies like treasures of bliss

the treasures of the herds walk with them.

Walking with them the treasures of bounty

نواصعَ كنّ شموسَ النها

نواصعَ كنّ شموسَ النها

رِ تطلُعُ منها بدورُ العَتَمْ

رِ تطلُعُ منها بدورُ العَتَمْ

Radiant-white, they were the suns of day;

Radiances like suns rising

from them the full moons of darkness rise.

From which appear cycles of darkness

فمختمرٌ ما عدا ليلتينِ

فمختمرٌ ما عدا ليلتينِ

ومسفرُعشرٍ خَطَاها فتمّْ

ومسفرُعشرٍ خَطَاها فتمّْ

One is veiled save for two nights,

So partially unveiled except two nights

and one unveiled at ten nights has passed them and grown full.

And wide open ten whose steps were complete

عقائل ما خفنَ عيباً يُلاقُ

عقائل ما خفنَ عيباً يُلاقُ

بهنّ ولا ذُقْنَ عيشاً يُذَمّْ

بهنّ ولا ذُقْنَ عيشاً يُذَمّْ

Noble women who feared no fault being fastened

Chaste, none of them having a blemish found

upon them, nor tasted a life to be condemned.

Nor did they taste a life blamed

حملن جسوماً وصفن النعي

حملن جسوماً وصفن النعي

مَ تحت وجوهٍ شكرن النِّعَمْ

مَ تحت وجوهٍ شكرن النِّعَمْ

They bore bodies that spoke of bliss,

Bearing bodies while describing the lean one

beneath faces that gave thanks for blessings.

Under faces thanking the bounty

وفي الركب من يك منها الجنونُ

وفي الركب من يك منها الجنونُ

وأخرى هي البرءُ وهي السقَمْ

وأخرى هي البرءُ وهي السقَمْ

Among the riders is one from whom madness comes,

And among the group one whom madness possessed

and another who is the cure and the sickness.

And another the innocent one who is the ill

إلى أين يا سائق البكرتينِ

إلى أين يا سائق البكرتينِ

عن الطَّلْح من أَجأٍ والسَّلَمْ

عن الطَّلْح من أَجأٍ والسَّلَمْ

Where, driver of the two young she-camels,

To where, O driver of the two she-camels

away from Aja's talh and salam acacias?

From the acacias, which refuge or peace?

أأغنى ثرىً منه شقَّتْ عصاك

أأغنى ثرىً منه شقَّتْ عصاك

وأسبغَ نبتاً وأندى دِيَمْ

وأسبغَ نبتاً وأندى دِيَمْ

Has your staff cleft richer soil than this,

Is any land's soil more generous when your staff split it

more abundant in growth, wetter with steady rains?

And more abundant its vegetation and fresher its plains?

أُسِرُّك غيرك من يسْتراد

أُسِرُّك غيرك من يسْتراد

جميمَ المراتع للمهتضمْ

جميمَ المراتع للمهتضمْ

I tell you in confidence: another is asked to find

I envy other than you who gathers

lush pastures for the wronged.

The good pastures for the digested

وقد حلفَتْ واليمينُ البلا

وقد حلفَتْ واليمينُ البلا

ءُ ظبيةُ لا برَّ منها القَسَمْ

ءُ ظبيةُ لا برَّ منها القَسَمْ

And she swore—the oath is affliction—

And the gazelle with the tribulation oath swore

that gazelle; may her oath not be fulfilled:

Not tasting from it any compact

لئن نسب الشعر بين الحمو

لئن نسب الشعر بين الحمو

ل باسمى ليُحتبَلَنّ المُسَمْ

ل باسمى ليُحتبَلَنّ المُسَمْ

If verse sings of love among the laden camels

If poetry is attributed between the camels

in my name, the named one shall surely be snared.

In my name, the muscle will surely be pierced

ألا هل وظلُّ المنَى باردٌ

ألا هل وظلُّ المنَى باردٌ

وقد يُرزَق المرءُ مما حُرِمْ

وقد يُرزَق المرءُ مما حُرِمْ

Ah, is it possible—while hope's shade is cool,

Does the shade of wishes remain cool

and one may be granted what one was denied—

And one may be granted what was forbidden?

تعودُ ليالٍ بذات النقا

تعودُ ليالٍ بذات النقا

قدُمْنَ ولم يُنسنيها القِدَمْ

قدُمْنَ ولم يُنسنيها القِدَمْ

for nights at Dhat al-Naqa to return,

Nights return with the same

long past, though age has not made me forget them,

Stars and it did not make me forget them the passing

وعيشٌ بها نامَ عنه الزمانُ

وعيشٌ بها نامَ عنه الزمانُ

وهبَّ وعادَ يُرَى في الحُلُمْ

وهبَّ وعادَ يُرَى في الحُلُمْ

and a life there over which Time slept,

And a life in it sleep forgot

then woke, and that life reappeared in dreams?

Then it woke and returned to be seen in dreams

لعلّك يا دهرُ أن تستقي

لعلّك يا دهرُ أن تستقي

ل فرطَ لجَاجك أو تحتشِمْ

ل فرطَ لجَاجك أو تحتشِمْ

Perhaps, O Time, you will seek pardon

Perhaps you, O fate, will reform

for your excessive obstinacy, or feel shame,

Due to insistence of your contention or be modest

فيُجمعَ هذا الفؤاد الشَّعاع

فيُجمعَ هذا الفؤاد الشَّعاع

ويبرُدَ هذا الجوى المضْطَرِمْ

ويبرُدَ هذا الجوى المضْطَرِمْ

so this scattered heart may be gathered

So this blazing heart gathers

and this blazing anguish cool.

And this burning bosom cools off

وإلا بقرب عميد الكفا

وإلا بقرب عميد الكفا

ةِ عذرُك في كلّ ذنْبٍ عَظُمْ

ةِ عذرُك في كلّ ذنْبٍ عَظُمْ

If not, nearness to Amid al-Kufat

Otherwise close to the pillar of capacity is

is your excuse for every grievous sin.

Your excuse in every enormous sin

متى تدنُ دارٌ به لا أَلُمْ

متى تدنُ دارٌ به لا أَلُمْ

ك في حادثٍ بعدَها أو مُلمّْ

ك في حادثٍ بعدَها أو مُلمّْ

When a home with him draws near, I shall not blame

When will a house come close in which I have no pain

you for any mishap thereafter or affliction.

In an event after it or difficulty?

رعى الله لي في سِرار النوى

رعى الله لي في سِرار النوى

هلالاً بأكنافِ غُمَّى أغَمّْ

هلالاً بأكنافِ غُمَّى أغَمّْ

May God preserve for me, in separation's moonless nights,

May God protect for me in the intricacies of intention

a crescent clouded amid the reaches of distress.

A crescent in the folds of sorrows folding

نفضتُ طريقَ النوى بعدَه

نفضتُ طريقَ النوى بعدَه

فلم أحظ إلا بخبط الظُّلَمْ

فلم أحظ إلا بخبط الظُّلَمْ

I searched the road of separation after him,

I shook off the path of intention afterward

but gained only stumbling through darkness.

So I did not gain except stumbling in darkness

وداويت جهديَ داءَ الحنين

وداويت جهديَ داءَ الحنين

فما يُستَطَبُّ ولا ينحسِمْ

فما يُستَطَبُّ ولا ينحسِمْ

With all my effort I treated the sickness of longing,

And I treated my exertion the sickness of yearning

but it cannot be healed or brought to an end.

But it is not healed and does not decide

وكيف استراحة جسمِ المقيم

وكيف استراحة جسمِ المقيم

بدارٍ بها قلبُه لم يُقِمْ

بدارٍ بها قلبُه لم يُقِمْ

How can the body of one dwelling find rest

And how can the body of the resident rest

in a home where his heart has not dwelt?

In a house in which his heart did not settle?

وما الأرضُ نصريَ غيرالعزي

وما الأرضُ نصريَ غيرالعزي

ز فيها ورِزقيَ غيرُ الأَمَمْ

ز فيها ورِزقيَ غيرُ الأَمَمْ

And what is the earth to me, with my support not mighty

And what is the land as my aid but

there, and my livelihood not within reach?

Sustenance in it and my provision but hopes?

وما خلتُ أنَّ بيوتَ النبي

وما خلتُ أنَّ بيوتَ النبي

طِ يَحذَرُ فيها ليوثُ الأجَمْ

طِ يَحذَرُ فيها ليوثُ الأجَمْ

I never thought that in the Nabataeans' houses

And I did not think that the houses of the prophet

the lions of the thickets would be wary,

The lion of tyrants fears in it

ولا أن تكون قُرىً بالدُجيل

ولا أن تكون قُرىً بالدُجيل

مراحَ العلا ومغيضَ الكرَمْ

مراحَ العلا ومغيضَ الكرَمْ

nor that villages on the Dujayl would be

Nor that it would be villages in Dajil

the resting-place of high honor, the basin of generosity.

Pasture of elevation and disgust of nobility

تغيَّر بعدَك خُلْقُ النسيم

تغيَّر بعدَك خُلْقُ النسيم

وغَصَّ السُّقاةَ الزّلالُ الشَّبِمْ

وغَصَّ السُّقاةَ الزّلالُ الشَّبِمْ

After you, the breeze's temper changed,

Your departure changed the nature of the breeze

and cool, clear water choked the water-bearers.

And the clear juice choked the drawers of water

فلا مشهدٌ للمعالي يزار

فلا مشهدٌ للمعالي يزار

ولا كعبةٌ للندى تُستلَمْ

ولا كعبةٌ للندى تُستلَمْ

No shrine of lofty deeds remains to be visited,

So no scene of sublimity to visit

nor a Kaaba of generosity to be reverently touched.

Nor a shrine of dew to be touched

كأنك سِرتَ بفضل الرجال

كأنك سِرتَ بفضل الرجال

جميعاً وبنتَ بمجدِ الأُممْ

جميعاً وبنتَ بمجدِ الأُممْ

As though you departed with men's merit,

As if you traveled with the excellence of all men

all of it, and went away with the glory of nations.

And built with the glory of nations

لئن نفَّرتك قِرافُ الأذى

لئن نفَّرتك قِرافُ الأذى

وأوحش سمْعَك لذعُ الكَلِمْ

وأوحش سمْعَك لذعُ الكَلِمْ

If contact with harm drove you away,

If the harm of people alienated you

and the sting of words made your hearing recoil,

And the bite of speech made your hearing desolate

ورابك من كالح قلبُه

ورابك من كالح قلبُه

إليك فمٌ مَلِقٌ مبتسِمْ

إليك فمٌ مَلِقٌ مبتسِمْ

and you mistrusted, from one whose heart was scowling,

And who slow is in his heart towards you

a flattering, smiling mouth turned toward you,

A face smiling and gentle

فما كنتَ إلا الحسامَ الجُرا

فما كنتَ إلا الحسامَ الجُرا

ز لو لم يُخَفْ حدُّه لم يُشَمْ

ز لو لم يُخَفْ حدُّه لم يُشَمْ

you were nothing but the all-cleaving sword;

Then you would only be the polished

had its edge not been feared, it would not have been sheathed.

Sword, if its sharpness did not terrify it would not be drew

وما دُعدِعَ الليثُ في غيلِهِ

وما دُعدِعَ الليثُ في غيلِهِ

سوى أن متى صافحوه لَطَمْ

سوى أن متى صافحوه لَطَمْ

The lion was harried in his thicket

And the lion was not shaken in his den

only because, whenever they shook his hand, he struck.

Unless when they shook his hand, he slapped

ودون الذي خفتَ رأيٌ ألدُّ

ودون الذي خفتَ رأيٌ ألدُّ

وقلبٌ أصمُّ وأنف أشمّْ

وقلبٌ أصمُّ وأنف أشمّْ

Before what you feared stand an unyielding resolve,

And below what you feared an opinion firmer

a deaf heart and a lofty nose,

And heart deafer and nose taller

وعرضُ البلادِ وطولُ النجادِ

وعرضُ البلادِ وطولُ النجادِ

ونصرُ الحسام وسحرُ القلَمْ

ونصرُ الحسام وسحرُ القلَمْ

the breadth of the lands, the length of the sword-belt,

And expanse of the countries and length of the spears

the sword's support and the pen's enchantment,

And victory of the swords and magic of the pen

وأمرٌ من الله في الذبِّ عن

وأمرٌ من الله في الذبِّ عن

ك لا يستطاع إذا ما حَتَمْ

ك لا يستطاع إذا ما حَتَمْ

and a decree from God in defense of

And a command from God in defending

you, irresistible once He has ordained it,

You cannot be attained when He destined

وعقبَى يُسَرُّ بها من يُسَرُّ

وعقبَى يُسَرُّ بها من يُسَرُّ

ويُرغَم مِن أسفٍ من رُغِمْ

ويُرغَم مِن أسفٍ من رُغِمْ

and an outcome that gladdens whoever is gladdened

And an outcome in which He makes happy whoever He makes happy

and humbles with sorrow whoever is humbled.

And frustrated from sorrow whoever He frustrated

وكم قد هفا الدهرُ من قبلها

وكم قد هفا الدهرُ من قبلها

وعاد وأقلعَ عما اجترمْ

وعاد وأقلعَ عما اجترمْ

How often Time has stumbled before this,

And how often time shook before it

then returned and desisted from the wrong it did,

And returned and refrained from what it sinned

وجاءك يحمِلُهُ الاعتذارُ

وجاءك يحمِلُهُ الاعتذارُ

منيباً ويشفع فيه الندَمْ

منيباً ويشفع فيه الندَمْ

and come to you, borne along by apology,

And it came carrying the apology

repentant, with regret interceding for it.

Bending, and the regret interceding for it

وضاقت ففرَّجها الصبرُ عنك

وضاقت ففرَّجها الصبرُ عنك

وكانت أغمَّ وكانت أطمّْ

وكانت أغمَّ وكانت أطمّْ

Hardship closed in, but patience lifted it from you,

And distress straitened so patience relieved you

though it had been gloomier and more overwhelming.

And it was most gloomy and it was most hopeful

وعيّفتُ طيري فبشَّرتُكم

وعيّفتُ طيري فبشَّرتُكم

بما أسلفتْه الأحاظِي لكمْ

بما أسلفتْه الأحاظِي لكمْ

I read omens from my birds and brought you good tidings

And I inspired my bird so I gave you glad tidings

of what good fortunes had already bestowed on you.

With what my fortunes loaned to you

ستذكر زجريَ فيها غداً

ستذكر زجريَ فيها غداً

كذكرك بالأمس لي ما قدُمْ

كذكرك بالأمس لي ما قدُمْ

Tomorrow you will remember my augury in this,

It will remember my threat in it tomorrow

as yesterday you recalled to me what was long past,

Like your remembrance of me yesterday when it came early

وتعلم أَنِّيَ من لا يقو

وتعلم أَنِّيَ من لا يقو

لُ في الشعر إلا بما قد علمْ

لُ في الشعر إلا بما قد علمْ

and know I am one who never speaks

And you will know I am one whose poetry

in verse except of what he has known.

Says only what he knew

وتطلُعُ لي من ثنايا اللقا

وتطلُعُ لي من ثنايا اللقا

ء لوثَ الغزالة رأسَ العلمْ

ء لوثَ الغزالة رأسَ العلمْ

And you will rise before me from the passes of reunion,

And the splendor of the gazelle will appear to me

as the sun wreathes a mountain's summit.

From the folds of meeting the forelock of the banner

وخلفك سائقُ طولِ البقاءِ

وخلفك سائقُ طولِ البقاءِ

وبين يديك ثبوتُ القدَمْ

وبين يديك ثبوتُ القدَمْ

Behind you is the driver of long life,

Behind you the driver of long survival

and before you, steadfast footing.

And in front of you firmness of steps

وقد فلّلتْ عنك حدّ العدوّ

وقد فلّلتْ عنك حدّ العدوّ

عُرى الصبر أو عالياتُ الهممْ

عُرى الصبر أو عالياتُ الهممْ

The enemy's edge against you has been blunted

And the enemy's blade was unsheathed from you

by patience's bonds or lofty aspirations.

The reins of patience or the most high of resolves

ألستَ ابن أعلقِهم بالحفاظ

ألستَ ابن أعلقِهم بالحفاظ

وأعبقِهم بشروط النِّعَمْ

وأعبقِهم بشروط النِّعَمْ

Are you not the son of the one most attached to fidelity,

Are you not the son most loyal to pacts

and most imbued with the obligations of favors,

And most fragrant with conditions of bounty?

وأنداهُمُ صارماً أو يداً

وأنداهُمُ صارماً أو يداً

تقَحَّمَ أو بَلَّ تُربَ القُحَمْ

تقَحَّمَ أو بَلَّ تُربَ القُحَمْ

and most bountiful with sword or hand,

And most formidable with sword or hand

whether he plunged in or moistened the dust of perils?

That plunged or reached soil of skulls?

وفَي ما وفَي بالمعالي أبوك

وفَي ما وفَي بالمعالي أبوك

وزدتَ فقمتَ بما لم يقُمْ

وزدتَ فقمتَ بما لم يقُمْ

Your father fulfilled what he fulfilled of lofty deeds,

And fulfilling what your father fulfilled of sublimity

and you added more, undertaking what he did not.

And you increased so you carried out what did not carry out

بك التأم الشعبُ من بعده

بك التأم الشعبُ من بعده

وأُبرِمَ سِلكُهُمُ وانتظمْ

وأُبرِمَ سِلكُهُمُ وانتظمْ

Through you the people were reunited after him,

Through you the populace feels reassured after him

and their thread was twisted firm and set in order.

And their path straightened and organized

فلا عدِموك حياً في الجدوب

فلا عدِموك حياً في الجدوب

رَخاً في الكروب غِنىً في العَدَمْ

رَخاً في الكروب غِنىً في العَدَمْ

May they never lack you: rain in drought,

So they do not miss you alive in hardships

ease in distress, wealth in want.

Or at rest in distresses, wealthy in lack

وحيَّت على البعد ذاك الجنابَ

وحيَّت على البعد ذاك الجنابَ

وتلك السجايا العذابَ الفغُمْ

وتلك السجايا العذابَ الفغُمْ

And from afar they have saluted that honored presence

And I greeted from afar that most dignified

and those sweet, fragrant qualities—

And those sublime morals, most patient of affliction

صواعدُ عنّي تهُبّ الجَنو

صواعدُ عنّي تهُبّ الجَنو

بُ منها بأضوعِ ما يُشتَممْ

بُ منها بأضوعِ ما يُشتَممْ

verses rising from me; the south wind wafts

Rising up from me blowing the sides

from them the sweetest fragrance one can breathe.

From it with the most redolent of what is smelled

مطاربُ في كلِّ سمع جرتْ

مطاربُ في كلِّ سمع جرتْ

عليه أطايبُ في كلِّ فَمْ

عليه أطايبُ في كلِّ فَمْ

Delightful in every ear they flow

Floating to every hearing has flowed

through, delicious in every mouth.

Onto it the most pleasant in every mouth

تدِرّ عليك مرابيعُها

تدِرّ عليك مرابيعُها

فواقاً فُواقاً درورَ الحَلَمْ

فواقاً فُواقاً درورَ الحَلَمْ

Their spring-calving camels pour milk upon you,

Circling upon you its squares

flow after flow, as teats pour milk.

In succession, like the circling of imagination

وأسمنها رعيُ وادي الوفا

وأسمنها رعيُ وادي الوفا

ء فيكم ووِردُ حياضِ الدِّيَمْ

ء فيكم ووِردُ حياضِ الدِّيَمْ

And they have been fattened by grazing the valley of loyalty

And the fattest of it the pasture of the valley of loyalty in you

to you, and drinking from the pools of steady rain.

And flowers of the meadows lasting

فلو أن داركُمُ بالصعيد

فلو أن داركُمُ بالصعيد

ودونكُمُ حجَبَاتُ الحَرَمْ

ودونكُمُ حجَبَاتُ الحَرَمْ

Even if your home were in al-Sa'id,

If only your house were in the plateau

with the sanctuary's veils barring the way,

And below you chambers of the sanctuary

لخاضت إليكم بطونَ البطاح

لخاضت إليكم بطونَ البطاح

وداست رؤوس الرُّبَى والأَكَمْ

وداست رؤوس الرُّبَى والأَكَمْ

they would wade toward you through the valleys' bellies

The bellies of the desolate valley would wade to you

and trample the heads of hills and knolls.

And tread the tops of low hills and dunes

يطالعكُم كلُّ عيدٍ أغَرَّ

يطالعكُم كلُّ عيدٍ أغَرَّ

وأعيادُ قوم سواكم بُهُمْ

وأعيادُ قوم سواكم بُهُمْ

Every radiant festival greets you,

Each feast appears more stirring to you

while other people's festivals are dark.

And people's feasts other than yours are gloomy

إذا ما خلوتم أنستم بها

إذا ما خلوتم أنستم بها

وإن ضامها الدهر عاذت بكمْ

وإن ضامها الدهر عاذت بكمْ

When you are alone, you find comfort in them,

When you are alone, it accompanies you

and if Time wrongs them, they seek refuge with you.

And if the fate gathered it, it takes refuge in you